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Scramble for university places | Scramble for university places |
(31 minutes later) | |
Teenagers who failed to get their first choices for university are rushing to find courses amid a squeeze on places. | Teenagers who failed to get their first choices for university are rushing to find courses amid a squeeze on places. |
More than 5,000 students have found a place through the UK's "clearing" system since A-level results came out. | |
There is a shortage of places this year after a surge in applications and a decision to cap growth in places. | There is a shortage of places this year after a surge in applications and a decision to cap growth in places. |
The university admissions service Ucas said hits to its website were 50% up on last year after teenagers received their A-level results. | The university admissions service Ucas said hits to its website were 50% up on last year after teenagers received their A-level results. |
It is thought there were about 22,000 places available through clearing, so nearly a quarter of them have gone. | |
Data just released by Ucas says nearly 142,000 people are eligible for clearing. | |
The body says since 0600 on Thursday, more than 970,570 students have logged onto its website to see if they have a university place confirmed or to find alternatives. | |
Calls to its helpline were close to 15,000 by the end of the day. | Calls to its helpline were close to 15,000 by the end of the day. |
This year's shortage of places, combined with an increased proportion of A grades going to private school students, will have a disproportionate impact on those from disadvantaged backgrounds Wes Streeting, NUS President | This year's shortage of places, combined with an increased proportion of A grades going to private school students, will have a disproportionate impact on those from disadvantaged backgrounds Wes Streeting, NUS President |
Applications to UK universities are up more than 10% on last year. | Applications to UK universities are up more than 10% on last year. |
This is due to a bulge in the population (there are more 18-year-olds this year), the drive to get more young people into higher education and the effects of the recession in encouraging both young and old to go to university. | This is due to a bulge in the population (there are more 18-year-olds this year), the drive to get more young people into higher education and the effects of the recession in encouraging both young and old to go to university. |
The Westminster government earlier this year put a 10,000 cap on the expansion of places for this autumn, though later offered funding for 13,000 more places as numbers of applicants surged. | The Westminster government earlier this year put a 10,000 cap on the expansion of places for this autumn, though later offered funding for 13,000 more places as numbers of applicants surged. |
However, not all universities took up this offer because places were not fully funded. | However, not all universities took up this offer because places were not fully funded. |
The rising pass rate at A-level has also, over a longer term, made more young people eligible for university. | The rising pass rate at A-level has also, over a longer term, made more young people eligible for university. |
This year the overall pass rate for A-levels in England, Wales and Northern Ireland rose to the record level of 97.5%, adding to the clamour for places. | This year the overall pass rate for A-levels in England, Wales and Northern Ireland rose to the record level of 97.5%, adding to the clamour for places. |
Students in Scotland, who received the results of their Highers earlier this month, had a head start on clearing. The pass rate for Highers also rose - by 0.8 percentage point to 74.2%. | Students in Scotland, who received the results of their Highers earlier this month, had a head start on clearing. The pass rate for Highers also rose - by 0.8 percentage point to 74.2%. |
Independent schools | Independent schools |
There are fears that it will be state school pupils who lose out in the scramble for university places - and teenagers from disadvantaged homes - whom the government have been trying to encourage to go into higher education. | There are fears that it will be state school pupils who lose out in the scramble for university places - and teenagers from disadvantaged homes - whom the government have been trying to encourage to go into higher education. |
A breakdown of results by school type showed that half of the A-levels awarded to candidates from independent schools were at grade A. | A breakdown of results by school type showed that half of the A-levels awarded to candidates from independent schools were at grade A. |
This compared with about 40% of entries from selective state schools and about 22% of those from comprehensives. | This compared with about 40% of entries from selective state schools and about 22% of those from comprehensives. |
Wes Streeting, President of the National Union of Students, said: "I have no doubt that this year's shortage of places, combined with an increased proportion of A grades going to private school students, will have a disproportionate impact on those from disadvantaged backgrounds. | Wes Streeting, President of the National Union of Students, said: "I have no doubt that this year's shortage of places, combined with an increased proportion of A grades going to private school students, will have a disproportionate impact on those from disadvantaged backgrounds. |
"I have a real fear that when numbers are published later, the number of pupils from state schools will have fallen." | "I have a real fear that when numbers are published later, the number of pupils from state schools will have fallen." |
We have massively expanded post-16 education so there is a far wider group of state pupils doing A-levels who never would have even have considered it before Iain Wright, Schools Minister | We have massively expanded post-16 education so there is a far wider group of state pupils doing A-levels who never would have even have considered it before Iain Wright, Schools Minister |
"We remain concerned that, despite passing their A-levels, many university applicants will still be disappointed. | "We remain concerned that, despite passing their A-levels, many university applicants will still be disappointed. |
"We understand the current pressures on public finances, but the government must also make the right long-term decisions. It is surely better to bear the cost of additional university places now than to shoulder the burden of long-term unemployment later." | "We understand the current pressures on public finances, but the government must also make the right long-term decisions. It is surely better to bear the cost of additional university places now than to shoulder the burden of long-term unemployment later." |
Conservative education spokesman, Michael Gove, said: "The gulf between independent schools and state schools is truly shocking. | Conservative education spokesman, Michael Gove, said: "The gulf between independent schools and state schools is truly shocking. |
"The fortunate few are pulling ever further away from the rest and this phenomenon appears to be gathering pace rather than slowing down." | "The fortunate few are pulling ever further away from the rest and this phenomenon appears to be gathering pace rather than slowing down." |
Schools Minister Iain Wright said the government had widened the pool of students doing A-levels and going to university. | Schools Minister Iain Wright said the government had widened the pool of students doing A-levels and going to university. |
"University and A-levels are no longer the preserve of the privileged and elite few - we have massively expanded post-16 education so there is a far wider group of state pupils doing A-levels who never would have even have considered it before. | "University and A-levels are no longer the preserve of the privileged and elite few - we have massively expanded post-16 education so there is a far wider group of state pupils doing A-levels who never would have even have considered it before. |
"This means you can't just look at proportions of pupils getting As - the private sector has not seen the same changes in the type of students sitting exams as the maintained sector and is far smaller overall. | "This means you can't just look at proportions of pupils getting As - the private sector has not seen the same changes in the type of students sitting exams as the maintained sector and is far smaller overall. |
"The fact is that between 2002 and 2009 the number of A grades increased 44% in the independent sector, whilst over the same period there was a 60% increase in the maintained sector. This suggests the maintained sector is making real gains." | "The fact is that between 2002 and 2009 the number of A grades increased 44% in the independent sector, whilst over the same period there was a 60% increase in the maintained sector. This suggests the maintained sector is making real gains." |